Fort Riley ? Some communities worry about losing soldiers and their money to war, but merchants around this prairie Army post are seeing a boost as armed conflict draws nearer.

For up to a year, at least 200 Army Reservists at Fort Riley will sleep and eat in hotels and restaurants in Junction City and Manhattan. Those soldiers will help active duty troops train reservists ordered to missions related to homeland security and for possible war with Iraq.

Soldiers sent to Fort Riley get their medical and personal information updated, as well as additional training related to their next mission, such as access control or security.

The two communities have relied heavily on the military’s presence at the historic post for 150 years, dating to the role Fort Riley played in protecting settlers.

“They have refrigerators and microwaves in their rooms, but it’s not like they are eating bologna sandwiches every night,” said Bill Machaud, manager of the Manhattan Holiday Inn. “The impact in the community is huge.”

While Machaud appreciates the business, he said he might not be able to fill the military’s needs. Many of the hotel’s 197 rooms are reserved for Kansas State University’s graduation, and soldiers may need rooms at least through September.

Deb Skidmore, spokeswoman for Fort Riley, said more than 2,500 soldiers had been ordered to the post for only a few weeks or months for training to support anti-terrorism efforts and the Iraq buildup.

Fort Riley pumps more than $614 million into the Kansas economy. The 100,000-acre post is home to the 24th Infantry Division, along with brigades from the 1st Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division.

On Wednesday, about 1,300 soldiers with Fort Riley’s 1st Armored Division received orders to prepare to deploy in support of Central Command operations.